Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-10-05
TELEGRAMS TO THE STAR
wilkes BOoth>s slayer Declared Hope.
lessly Insane lHts Career of late

BOSTON CORBETT In AN ASYLUM
wilkes Booth's slayer Declared Hope.
lcssly Insane - HIS Career of late
Years.
TorEKA KAs, October 5-Boston Corbctt. the
man who shot John wilkes Booth, the assassin -
President Lincoln, was on saturday declared hope.
lessly insane and a guardian was appointed by the
probate judge 20 take charge OF his property
Corbett was taken 10 the state Insane Asylum
and will probably continue an inmate of the instt
tuition as long as he lives as ply sicians say that
IL is impossible for him 60 be cured The story ot
his bloody deed, which 50 efrectually blghted his
life and which has finally followed him into q
as being part Of great national Tragedy WIZ
Soon after he killed Booth, Corbett received an
anonymous letter purporting 20 be written by
really believed that the threat would be carried
out, and the matter weighed 40 heavily upon his
mind that ne became partially crazed. He Do
him. and TO this day he maintains that friends
OF John Wilkes Booth are on his track. IL was In
the hope OF getting away from his imaginary
pu-suers that he came 10 Kansas more
than firteen years ago and located in an
uninhabited portion OF the state. 50 ef.
fectually did Corbett conceal his Identity
that IL was several years before &c was known I'm
Kansas that he was the slayer OF Booth. For sew.
eral years past he has been subject TO crazy spells
but never did any harm. During his residence In
Kansas he has carried a revolver with him night
and day, SO that he might be prepared to defend
himself should he be discovered 10y the imagined
avengers OF Wilkes Booth. one OF his peCuliartics
was his pronounced opposition 90 secret societies
BY some means he learned that Booth was menu
Der OF a secret society. aud he believes that the
members OF that society are pledged TO avenge
theif brothers death. He has resided on a farm
In Cloud County FOR several years, living in log
nut, and With scant allowance OF food and cloth
Ing.
About one year ago he was a delegate 10 the
republican county convention. While the con-
Nentl0n was In progress Corbett was seized with
one OF his spells and advancing 10 the platform he
pointed pistol AT the chairman. demanded
silence, ana proceeded 10 offer prayer. When lie
had concluded his prayer he ordered the conyen-
ton TO proceed Corbett was appointed door.
keeper or the Kansas house OF representatives last
winter. His conduct In the early part OF the ses-
sion was all hight, but one day toward the latter
part OF the session, while the house was In the
widest OF heated discussion, he created con.
sternation by appearing on the speakers stand
and drawing from under mis- coat large revolver,
he declared the house adjourned He was sent
home, and has since lost his mind altogether.
-
Battling with q Lunatic.
ARMED WITH A KNIFE MADNAs FIGHTS pRo.
PERATELy AGAINST CAPTURE.
PARKERsBURG, W. Va, october 5.-An escaped
lunatic from the Athens Asylum Monday night
caused a terrible commotion In the family OF Jno
Bremen living some miles from the asylum His
name is NJ Blanchard and he had broken away
from his keepers while being given an airing
When he reached Brennen's home there were only
the women there. Brandshing large knife he
drove them out and got into bed In one OF the
rooms. When John Bremen came In he rose up
and threatened 10 Kill any oDewho came near him
In the meantime yelling like maniac ana flourish.
Ing the knife about In dangerous manner
Bremen got three men and they attempted TO
take him prisoner. He gave them a horrible
battle, slashing first AT one and then the Other
They managed TO avoid anything more than
slight cuts, when one OF them got behind him and
tripped him. His rage being increased he fought
more desperately than eyen but was unable to
get up and finailyworn out, his knife dropped and
he was put In chains and taken back 10 the